Sunday, November 14, 2010

The Sunday Comments ( 11 - 14 - 10 )

re: TONIGHT:Hi Kent!It's been awhile since I've sent anything to post on your blog, but I'm still around on Sunday nights from 7-10 PM EST (going on 18 years!), spinning so many of those "lost classics" on Gerri's Place @ www.wrdv.org.Just wanted to let you and your readers know that this Sunday evening, November 14, my very special guest will be Howard Ravitsky. Howard was (to quote from one of his CD's), "an unknown Philadelphia record producer, songwriter, and label owner (Lash Records) that created some of the best R&B and soul music to come out of Philadelphia." He worked with Patty and The Emblems (Mixed Up, Shook Up Girl), Bunny Sigler, Honey and The Bees, and many more soul and R&B artists.He will be my guest for all three hours sharing tunes, and talking about Philadelphia record producers (mostly from the 60's / some 70's, and NOT Gamble, Huff, or Bell) and the heyday of soul music in Philadelphia.He will be featuring records by many talented Philadelphia producers such as Luther Randolph, Johnny Styles, Frank Virtue, Jimmy Bishop, and others, who, like many of our beloved performers, also lacked recognition that they deserved. As a producer himself and owner of Lash records, Howard will highlight aspects in the making of records he's carefully selected for this program.In preparation for the show, Howard had an important conversation with Weldon McDougal only a few months before we lost him, which he'll share in conjunction with Weldon's wonderful productions.This is a must-not-miss show for any of your readers who love soul and R&B ... and promises to be both musical and educational - a real keeper!Howard always has lots of stories and he has provided me with some amazing music that just isn't heard anymore!Again, you can listen ANYWHERE on the planet ... Sunday, November 14, 7-10 PM EST ... www.wrdv.org!Thanks for everything you do Kent!Gerri Bender

... And, in OTHER Philly News, looks like we missed one event last week while we were taking a breather ... but are just in time to tell you about ANOTHER one coming up next week!

re: PHILLY NEWS:REMEMBERING INFLUENTIAL ‘PHILLY SOUL’ PRODUCER WELDON A. McDOUGAL III ... BENEFIT CONCERT AND MEMORIAL SERVICE TO COMMEMORATE LIFE OF LARKS VOCALIST AND PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AND MOTOWN RECORDS PROMOTION EXEC WHO HELPED DISCOVER MICHAEL JACKSON AND JACKSON 5WHAT: The Philadelphia music community will gather to stage a joyous celebration commemorating the life of WELDON ARTHUR McDOUGAL III, influential vocalist and producer and founding member of The Larks in a benefit concert and memorial service at the Clef Club. McDougal, a West Philadelphia native who died Oct. 21 of pancreatic cancer at 74, was a promotions executive for Philadelphia International Records and Motown Records. He is credited with helping to shape Philadelphia soul music and helping to discover Michael Jackson and the Jackson 5.WHEN: Tuesday, November 9, 2010WHO: The Intruders - performer; The Soul Survivors - performer; Sounds of the Blue Notes – performer; The Delfonics – performer; Jamie Knight - performer; Rheel Menn - performer; Weldon McDougal IV - speaker; Ju-Taun - performer; Carol Riddick – performer; Earl Young, MFSB – speaker; Bunny Sigler - performer; Kimberly Roberts, Philadelphia Tribune – speakerWHERE: The Clef Club / Avenue of the Arts / 738 S. Broad St. / Philadelphia, PA

GAMBLE & HUFF WALKLEGENDARY ‘SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA’ PIONEERS KENNETH GAMBLE AND LEON HUFF TO BE HONORED WITH RENAMING OF HISTORIC BLOCK OF BROAD STREETROCK ‘N’ ROLL HALL OF FAMERS IMMORTALIZED ON STREET KNOWN AS BIRTHPLACE OF ‘THE PHILLY SOUND’ IN PREPARATION OF GLORIOUS 2-YEAR LEGACY CELEBRATIONDEDICATION CEREMONY AND FESTIVITIES TO BE HELD WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, ALONG THE STREET THAT THEY MADE FAMOUS TO ‘PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD’PHILADELPHIA — Legendary producer-songwriting team and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees KENNETH GAMBLE and LEON HUFF will be honored by the City of Philadelphia with the renaming of the block of South Broad Street they made famous to “people all over the world” as “Gamble & Huff Walk” in a special ceremony to be held here Wednesday, November 17 at noon EST.The world-renowned pioneering music icons, architects of “The Sound of Philadelphia,” one of the most enduring brands of soul music anywhere, will be honored in ceremonies in front of the infamous Philadelphia International Records building, where they created a massive catalogue of 3,000 songs together, including R&B #1 hits, pop #1 hits, 100 gold and platinum records, Grammy winners and BMI songwriters’ award nominees. The block of South Broad Street where the historic building resides is located along the Avenue of the Arts between Spruce and Pine streets, a strip that also includes the Kimmel Center, the University of the Arts and the recently launched TSOP Experience, a live performance venue and souvenir shop that celebrates the Gamble & Huff legacy by showcasing the music of Philadelphia’s rising and established stars.Though an arson fire has kept the Philadelphia International Records offices at 309 S. Broad Street quiet since the beginning of the year, the street renaming signifies a whole new beginning for Gamble & Huff, as the duo prepares for a glorious two-year celebration of their legacy, beginning next year with the 40th anniversary of Philadelphia International Records, and continuing into 2012 with the 50th anniversary of their distinguished partnership. The extraordinary festivities along Broad Street will include a free outdoor concert by several recording artists in the extended Philadelphia International Records family. Guest speakers and attendees will include numerous dignitaries, recording artists, business associates and family members."We are truly blessed that the City of Philadelphia, which has inspired so many of our message songs throughout the decades, and which we are proud to say has been our home for so many years, feels we are worthy of such an honor,” says Gamble & Huff. “This is beyond our wildest dreams. It’s absolutely fantastic.”Gamble & Huff are among the most prolific professional songwriting teams of all time, having written and produced over 3,000 songs within 35 years, an output that rivals Lennon-McCartney, Jagger-Richards, Leiber & Stoller and Holland-Dozier-Holland. Their message songs of peace, love, empowerment, social conscience and turmoil sold millions of records, as they fashioned the sweet, sexy, stirring, socially conscious Philly Sound at Philadelphia International Records (PIR). They are enshrined in five music Halls of Fame, including the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Featured prominently in television programs ("The Apprentice," "Cold Case"), films ("The Nutty Professor") and advertising spots (Verizon, Chevrolet, Coors Light, Old Navy, The Gap, Office Max) for more than 30 years, Gamble & Huff's songs have entered the musical DNA of contemporary culture. In fact, one of their songs is played on the radio somewhere in the world every 13.5 minutes. With a stable core of artists led by the O'Jays, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Billy Paul, MFSB and the Three Degrees, Gamble & Huff co-founded Philadelphia International Records and created monster hits almost from the first day of its inception. Songs they have written and produced together, like "Back Stabbers," "Love Train," "For The Love Of Money," "If You Don't Know Me By Now," "Cowboys to Girls," "Don't Leave Me This Way," "Enjoy Yourself," "I'm Gonna Make You Love Me," "Only the Strong Survive" and "TSOP" (better known as the "Soul Train" theme), have received songwriters' awards from Broadcast Music International (BMI). Their songs comprise the most sampled R&B catalogue in the world, by artists such as Jay-Z, Usher, Cam'ron, Ja Rule, Jaheim, and Avant.Gamble & Huff have recorded and collaborated with a galaxy of stars from the pop, rock, soul and jazz universes, including Michael Jackson and the Jacksons, Elton John, Lou Rawls, Teddy Pendergrass, Patti LaBelle, Harold Melvin and the Blue Notes, Aretha Franklin, the Spinners, the Stylistics, the Delfonics, Dusty Springfield, Jerry Butler, Wilson Pickett, Labelle, Archie Bell & the Drells, the Soul Survivors, Laura Nyro, the Trammps, McFadden & Whitehead, Phyllis Hyman and Grover Washington Jr. Their songs also have been covered by a myriad of artists including Elvis Presley, the Rolling Stones, Bette Midler, Simply Red, Michael Buble, Johnny Mathis, Lesley Gore, Donny & Marie, Thelma Houston, the Brand New Heavies and most recently, Rod Stewart, who sings four Gamble & Huff classics on his latest album, Soulbook.In 1999, four years after being inducted into the National Academy of Songwriters' Hall of Fame, Gamble & Huff were honored by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences with the Trustees Award for their extensive body of work, both as producer and songwriter, and their contribution to the entire fabric of popular music, joining luminaries like Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, and Walt Disney. They have been inducted twice into the Dance Music Hall of Fame as well as the R&B Hall of Fame. In 2005, Gamble & Huff appeared on American Idol in a show devoted entirely to their music. In 2008, Gamble & Huff were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as the first recipients of the newly created AhmetErtegün Award. And earlier this year, Gamble & Huff were presented honorary doctor of music degrees – their first together in a distinguished partnership that is nearing its 50th anniversary – at Berklee College of Music’s 2010 Commencement.WHAT: STREET NAMING CEREMONY FOR KENNETH GAMBLE AND LEON HUFF, LEGENDARY “SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA” PRODUCERS AND SONGWRITERS.Gamble & Huff will be honored by the City of Philadelphia the re-naming of the 300 Block of S. Broad St. as GAMBLE & HUFF WALK, in ceremonies in front of the historic Philadelphia International Records building along the Avenue of the Arts.. WHERE: Broad Street, between Spruce and Pine streets, Philadelphia, PAWHEN: Wednesday, November 17, 2010, 11 a.m. – Press conference at the TSOP Experience-Souvenir Shop, 309A S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PANOON - Ceremony and festivities to include proclamation, live music performances, and reflections from family members and business associates1 p.m. - Reception at the Doubletree Hotel, 237 S. Broad St., Philadelphia, PAWHO: Mr. Kenneth Gamble – co-founder and partner with Mr. Huff of Philadelphia International Records and the Gamble & Huff songwriting team.Mr. Leon Huff – co-founder and partner of Philadelphia International Records and the seminal R&B songwriting team Gamble & Huff, architects of “The Sound of Philadelphia.”Live concert performances by notable artists in the Philadelphia International Records family.FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE VISIT:http://www.gamble-huffmusic.com/Thanks to Forgotten Hits Readers Rich and Mamie, Frannie and I had the pleasure of a private tour of the Philadelphia-International facilities a couple of years ago. It was like walking through the Halls of History. (This same spot once served as the home of the legendary Cameo / Parkway Studios, too, back in the late '50's and early '60's!) Congratulations to Gamble and Huff ... what an OUTSTANDING career you guys have had ... and thank you AGAIN for sharing this wonderful music with all of us. (kk)

From Soul Classics to Country ... we cover it ALL in Forgotten Hits!!! (lol)Courtesy of FH Reader TCFireboy, here are The Top Ten Country and Western Song Titles ... Thanks, Tom! (kk)

re: COUNTRY CLASSICS:Top Ten Country & Western Song Titles:10. I Hate Every Bone In Her Body But Mine9. I Ain't Never Gone To Bed With an Ugly Woman But I Woke Up With a Few8. If The Phone Don't Ring, You'll Know It's Me7. I've Missed You, But My Aim's Improvin'6. Wouldn't Take Her To A Dogfight 'Cause I'm Scared She'd Win5. I'm So Miserable Without You It's Like You're Still Here4. My Wife Ran Off With My Best Friend And I Miss Him3. She Took My Ring and Gave Me the Finger2. She's Lookin' Better with Every BeerAnd the Number One Country & Western song is ...1. It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chewed My Ass The Whole Day LongTomLOL ... that #1 Song is one of my favorites ... done by country superstars Vince Gill and Rodney Crowell a few years back (as The Notorious Cherry Bombers) ... if you've never seen this video, you've got to check it out ... it's a CLASSIC! (kk)Click here: YouTube - It's Hard To Kiss The Lips At Night That Chew Your Ass Ou...

re: MORE COOL KIDS:Last month we ran a photo that Bob Merlis sent us of some real-life triplets dressed up as ZZ Top for Halloween! Now comes a brand new photo of Alice ... and Cooper ... read on and you'll see what we mean! (kk)Meet Alice Van Horn (born October 15, 2010) and Cooper Chetek (born June 28, 2010).They are, respectively, the offspring of Dennis and Lisa Van Horn and Travis and Amber Chetek of Edmonton, Alberta. The couples are great friends and they're fans of -- you guessed it -- Alice Cooper and faithful listeners to the syndicated Nights With Alice Cooper radio show, heard locally on K-97.It's certainly not a coincidence that their kids have been named as they are. Dennis Van Horn, who shot the photo and inscribed it on the kids' behalf, had a brush with the real thing when he spotted the adult Alice at the West Edmonton Mall some time back. "I yelled at him and got a wave; I was stoked," reports the new father who was long committed to the name Alice if the bundle his wife was carrying was going to be a girl. To which we respond: "Alice is a girl's name?"At any rate, we thought you'd enjoy this picture of two cute kids whose parents did not name either "Sue."-- Bob Merlis

Later this month we're presenting "BEATexpo 2010." We have brought the convention back to CT with a fab line-up of guests, fine bands, a movie premiere as part of our film-fest, a great variety of exhibits / vendors / dealers and a wonderful location (the beautiful and conveniently located Downtown Stamford Holiday Inn, with free indoor garage parking). Last year's Expo was like the old shows we did "all those years ago" - fun for everyone in a great, Beatleful fan atmosphere, and we're making it all "come together" once again.

This year's convention is coming November 27 - 28 ... please visit www.ToursAndEvents.com/BEATexpo.htm for more information.Hope to see some of your readers out there this year!Cheers,

And, thanks to FH Regular Contributor Frank B. (who, apparently raids the WCBS-FM website several times a day on a daily basis! lol) we've now got some of THESE Oldies News Headlines to share with you, too:

Kent ...Looks like Lou changed his mind. First he said no, then he said yes.Frank B.Lou Reed creates 'intimate' video for Susan Boyle's 'Perfect Day' cover News NME.COMYeah, don'tcha just love it. Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer Lou Reed ... whose music catalog is in SUCH great demand ... says that Susan Boyle can't perform his song on "America's Got Talent" ... then not only gives her permission (once she's a world-wide celebrity of course!) but also volunteers to produce the track and video for her!!! Now that's TRULY a class act of kindness.I haven't personally heard the track yet ... but I can't help but wonder if all the colored girls in the background are going "do-do-do-do" ... anybody know for sure??? (kk)

Kent ...More of our kind of shows coming.Floyd Mutrux to Produce Rock Musicals Based on Elvis, Goldner et al. 2010/07/30Frank B.Just one more way this music will continue to live on long after we're all gone. Plus new Cirque du Soleil shows featuring the music of Elvis and Michael Jackson ... a film version of "Jersey Boys", Tommy James' book being turned into both a movie and a stage musical ... tribute shows galore to the music of this era (and artists like Billy Joel, ABBA, The Bee Gees ... who ALSO have a new bio-pic in the works) ... it's just unreal. (Note to John Madara: sounds like the time is right to FINALLY get "At The Hop" made!!!) kk

With only about two months left in office, Florida governor Charlie Crist is considering a posthumous pardon for legendary rocker Jim Morrison, who was charged with indecent exposure following a 1969 concert in Miami, Florida. The lead singer for The Doors was charged after allegedly exposing himself during a March 1, 1969 concert at Miami’s Dinner Key Auditorium.The singer was eventually convicted of indecent exposure and profanity but never served time before he died in Paris in 1971.For years, fans of The Doors have sought a pardon for Morrison and in 2007 Crist first indicated a willingness to examine the issue.According to Florida Today, Crist’s spokesman Sterling Ivey confirmed a report in “The Hill”, a congressional news organization. Ivey said a pardon is something Crist “is willing to look at,” Florida Today reported.Kent ...So it looks like Florida Governor Charlie Crist may pardon Jim Morrison before he leaves office. That's good to hear. I've been worrying about this since 1971. LOL!Frank B.Pardon Me, Governor: How Will You Close The Door On Your Administration? « WCBS-FM 101.1Ah yes, a tremendous load off MY mind, too. (Hmmm ... I wonder if he'll ALSO declare "Touch Me" as the new state song?!?!?) kk

re: KAREN CARPENTER:Back in the 1980s or 1990s, I saw a made-for-TV biographical film about the Carpenters. It started out with the family moving into their new home in the Los Angeles area back in the 1950s. The actor who portrayed a very young Karen Carpenter showed her to be chubby and this led to Karen becoming anorexic, as the entertainment industry gets into appearances and did so back then, too. She was probably told to lose weight or forget about succeeding and I am sure that Karen was also gotten on when younger about her being chubby and also before she and Richard ever hit the top. She then became determined never to be chubby again and was also very sensitive about things, to start off with, and this led to her becoming and being anorexic.Also, in the 1920s, being skinny was "in" and the look for women was being boyish-looking and so they would flatten their chests with Band-Aids and the like. This is probably when the whole thing began.Recently, I heard that women today who are in their 30s and 40s are now suffering from anorexia, due to the large amount of older female celebs who are very thin and probably work out ten hours a day to stay that way. The women who eat this up also get into working to be as thin and get obsessive about it, and anorexia is now becoming common in middle-aged women as well as younger ones and I am sure that there are also girls who are very young that are also going that way.I once knew a woman who was and probably is still anorexic, and I ended up parting ways with her, as it was her whole life and I couldn't take in anymore. I heard from a woman that I am friends with that is still friends with the anorexic woman that she ended up taking up smoking, although her body is severely damaged from the anorexia, and probably to help keep herself from eating. The woman has cancer in her family, too, and is destroying herself further by smoking.I can remember reading in the paper about Karen Carpenter's death back in 1982 and also seeing a picture of her and she looked very bad. Hollywood has to work to stop this thing from keeping on going, or there will be more tragedies like this that are going to happen to industry people and everyday people.I also remember that there was a guy in my high school that was anorexic, and so men are also afflicted by this illness, although not as much as women. So, this also goes out to males as well as females. However, males are more likely to get into trying to "bulk up" and so they will take steroids like crazy and overwork out and do it until they get sick. The body image thing must be stopped or else so many more people will end up dead from trying to look like models in the media.Leah JordanThe book ("Little Girl Blue" by Randy L. Schmidt) gives some tremendous insight into the personal demons that were haunting Karen about her weight and appearance. It truly is an enlightening experience and comes HIGHLY recommended by all of our FH readers who have read a copy. Sad but meaningful ... and you'll want to dig out all of your old Carpenters tracks and listen to them again. We lost a great, natural-born talent when we lost Karen Carpenter ... we may never experience another voice quite like hers. (kk)

... and, speaking of good books ...

re: JIMMY O'NEILL:Kent ...According to the book I read, Jimmy O' Neill, host of Shindig, was married to Sharon Sheeley. Sharon was about to marry Eddie Cochran at the time of his death. Among other songs, she wrote Ricky Nelson's first #1 hit, "Poor Little Fool," in 1958.Frank B.I haven't picked this one up yet ... but I hear it's quite a fascinating read. (kk)

re: DIGGIN' FORGOTTEN HITS(BUT NOW ALWAYS SHOWIN' THE LOVE!!!):Kent,How much I enjoy the comments of Gary Theroux. I go to him and Rollye James with any questions I have. I've found no one with more knowledge of pop music than they provide. Both are also on the Hit Parade Hall of Fame nominating committee.John RookGary is a walking music encyclopedia ... it is a real pleasure (and honor) to have him on the list of regular contributors to Forgotten Hits! (More from Gary coming in the days to come!) kk

Hey Kent!Hadn't read the Saturday or Sunday Forgotten Hits by the time I reached Borders on Sunday, so I was pleasantly surprised when Jim Pilster informed me of your very kind words in the FH blog.

Thanks SO much for your continued support with the Rock 'n Roll Roots CD series. It's a labor of love and I'm just thrilled every year when we get to Borders to see all the happy faces of the fans who love this music. It's a warm and fuzzy in an era when there's not a whole lot of warm and fuzzy.

It was great to see you if only for a moment. Wish I had more time to spend with everyone that day but it's a full time job keeping the children (musicians) in line!Thanks for all you do as I continue to read each and every Forgotten Hits, start to finish faithfully!Bob Stroud

JohnYep ... it's unreal ... and this happens SEVERAL times a month ... I get links like this regularly from our readers who are shocked to see our stuff running on somebody else's website! (I don't get it ... rather than simply present a link to visit The Forgotten Hits website and read the stuff for themselves, folks just steal it verbatim ... offering absolutely NO credit as to who the REAL author is ... and then present it as their own.In fact, over the last couple of years I've found Forgotten Hits translated into about a dozen different languages, too, and then run in foreign countries.)Funny thing is, we've had something like 600,000 people check out our website now ... but as many as 6 MILLION people may have read our stuff (without ever even knowing it was MINE!!!) I don't know what can be done about it ... one of the risks on being online, I guess ... kind of flattering and annoying all at the same time!kkI guess it just goes to show you that you have an interesting site! (But it may be time to get Dick Tracy on this case!) :-)

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Have a comment about one of our posts?Simply send an email to eitherforgottenhits@aol.com orkk@forgottenhits.comand we'll publish the best ones in our Sunday Comments Page.And be sure to check out our OTHER website to read many of our archived articles, Forgotten Hits Oldies Polls and Readers' Favorites: www.forgottenhits.com.Want to receive weekly updates to check the site? Just drop us a line and we'll add your name to the mailing list. (Either of the email addresses above will work ... just write "Subscribe" in the subject line and we'll put you on the list!)(All material copyright 1998 - 2013, Kent Kotal and Forgotten Hits Publishing)

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We're doing our part to help Keep Yesterday Alive ... thanks to a GREAT list of music fans and contributors from all over the world. Forgotten Hits is Oldies Radio's Best Friend ... it's Radio That You Can Read! We're asking the deejays to dig just a LITTLE bit deeper and push the envelope just a LITTLE bit further and take the time to remember and acknowledge some of those GREAT songs and artists that we all know and love that just don't get played anymore ... the ones that traditional oldies radio has forgotten all about with their short, repetitive play lists. Without your help and support, this great music will continue to disappear and fade away.